LOS ANGELES — A 23-year-old man was sentenced to four years in federal prison for throwing a Molotov cocktail at sheriff’s deputies during protests against immigration raids in Southern California.
Emiliano Garduno Galvez, a Mexican national illegally residing in the U.S., pleaded guilty in October to charges of possessing an unregistered destructive device and civil disorder that stemmed from his actions during a June 7 protest in Paramount, a city near Los Angeles. His sentencing occurred on Friday.
Sheriff's deputies had responded to a large protest outside a Home Depot where Border Patrol agents were present. Eyewitness accounts noted that demonstrators were throwing rocks and other objects at law enforcement.
According to Galvez's plea agreement, he admitted to going behind a wall, igniting a Molotov cocktail, and throwing it at the deputies. The incendiary device landed in a grassy area near a protester, approximately 15 feet from the deputies, before Galvez fled the scene.
His actions were described as attempting to obstruct the lawful duties of the deputies. Bill Essayli, assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, emphasized the reckless nature of Galvez’s actions, stating it endangered the lives of both law enforcement personnel and lawful protesters.
While Galvez’s defense team requested a three-year sentence, arguing he recognized the gravity of his actions, the court ultimately decided on the four-year term. Many protests against immigration enforcement during this time were peaceful, though some escalated into violence, resulting in numerous arrests and confrontations with police.